Sporting briefs

No wages: Players at Russian top flight side Tomsk have threatened to boycott their weekend league match against Rostov because of unpaid wages. The club, which has suffered financial trouble consistently over the last two years, reportedly owes its players around $3.3 million.

Adriano: Brazilian defender Adriano will be sidelined for six to seven days, according to his club Barcelona after suffering a small muscle tear in his left leg. Adriano picked up the niggle while training with the Brazilian national side on a recent tour. He is set to miss Barca’s league match against Real Zaragoza at the weekend and possibly the Champions League clash against Milan next Wednesday.

Ivory Coast: The friendly between Senegal and Ivory Coast was called off yesterday at the request of the Ivorians. According to sources, the Ivorians demanded the match – originally scheduled in Amiens, France – had to be cancelled after their flight from South Africa on Sunday was unable to leave because of technical problems.

Japan beaten: North Korea downed bitter rivals Japan 1-0 yesterday in a bad-tempered World Cup qualifier. But the hosts’ first win in qualifying came too late to save their campaign as Asian champions Japan were already through to the last round with 10 points from their first three games. Japan’s national anthem received a deafening round of boos before the game.

Roy out: Nice have sacked manager Eric Roy after a run of one win in the last seven games left the club lying outside the Ligue 1 relegation zone. Club president Jean-Pierre Rivere has replaced Roy with his assistant Rene Marsiglia ahead of Saturday’s home game with St Etienne.